Publisher's Summary

Five teens are at a 17th birthday party when one of them unexpectedly gives birth in the bathroom. From that moment on, the five find their lives inextricably intertwined with the arrival of the baby. All of them must deal with not only their own feelings but their secrets, too.

Performance

Story

Mixed feelings, but overall I liked it

What did you like best about The Baby? What did you like least?

I bought this book because it centred on an unexpected birth of a baby by a teenage mother. This theme fascinated me. I tend to be interested in stories surrounding pregnancy and birth, and teenage parenthood. This was my favourite aspect of the story. It warmed the cockles of my heart as the young mother turns from insecure teenager to confident mother by the end of the story.<br/><br/>I found this story a bit too emotionally intense to the kind of lighter, escapist read that I usually enjoy. But I appreciated that the author is endeavouring to be realistic.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I really didn't see the ending coming. It was intriguing, but maybe a bit implausible. I found the end a bit unsatisfying. Maybe because I would have liked Ben to have taken a different path, character-wise. I have heard that there is going to be a sequel, so we'll see how the story continues.

Which scene was your favorite?

I quite enjoyed the birth scene early on in the book. It seemed realistic and I found it a powerful scene, emotionally. The author does a good job of emphasising this scene as a pivotal point for all the characters' journeys.

Was The Baby worth the listening time?

Yes, I think so. It's not a long book, and it easily holds the reader's interest.